NEW YORK COSMOS

November 24, 2012BROADWAY BECKS?Irish newspaper says Beckham could become player and part-owner with the Cosmos

David Beckham could become a player and a part-owner of the New York Cosmos, according to the Sunday World in Ireland.
Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images

Is David Beckham heading to the New York Cosmos?

That could be a possibility if a report in the Sunday World in Ireland is true.

The newspaper said that the LA Galaxy midfielder and former English National Team player would become a a player and part-owner of the Cosmos.

Beckham is preparing to play for the Galaxy in MLS Cup at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. next Saturday. The Cosmos, who are preparing to make a competitive comeback next year in the North American Soccer League, are rumored to want to become the second New York team and an expansion team as the 20th franchise in Major League Soccer.

The 37-year-old Beckham will leave the Galaxy after the game. There are rumors that he is headed to Paris Saint-Germain in France and that teams in the Australian A-League are interested in the standout midfielder.

The Cosmos' hierarchy is believed to want to bring Beckham to the club as a board member and as a player, according to the newspaper. That would give the team instant credibility in the New York market and be an attractive carrot to convince MLS to bring the team in as an expansion team. MLS is spearheading an effort to build a soccer-specific stadium in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens for the New York franchise.

According to the Sunday World, a senior Cosmos source said that discussions were underway with Beckham and his advisers

"David has confirmed his interest and we expect an announcement before Christmas," the source told the newspaper.

According to the Daily Star in England, Beckham was interested in part-ownership of the Galaxy. Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the MLS club, is on the block for $7.2 billion but there have been no takers.

A source close to Beckham told the Star: “New York is looking like the deal he’ll go for.

“As far as the Galaxy are concerned, without knowing who the eventual new owners are likely to be he felt it was too risky for him to hope they offer him a co-ownership deal there.”

Beckham joined the Galaxy in 2007 and has spent six years with the MLS team.

The Cosmos on Saturday night declined to comment about the reports.

The Cosmos named former MetroStars and Long Island Rough Riders standout Giovanni Savarese as coach on Monday. The team recently named Erik Stover as chief operating officer.